A facility for simplifying the facilities and tools required to assemble a first aircraft fuselage section and a second aircraft fuselage section by the ends thereof, these sections being fragile, large elements. The facility includes a logistics trolley that can be moved on the floor and immobilized in a position to carry the first section, at least one adjustable support installed on the floor at another position that is adjustable with six degrees of freedom, to carry the second section. Each support can be commanded to adjust the position of the second section in relation to the first section, such as to position one end of the second section in geometric conformity with one end of the first section. This arrangement enables all movements to be made directly on the floor, obviating the need to provide lifting machines or overhead traveling cranes within the assembly facility.

A facility for simplifying the facilities and tools required to assemble a first aircraft fuselage section and a second aircraft fuselage section by the ends thereof, these sections being fragile, large elements. The facility includes a logistics trolley that can be moved on the floor and immobilized in a position to carry the first section, at least one adjustable support installed on the floor at another position that is adjustable with six degrees of freedom, to carry the second section. Each support can be commanded to adjust the position of the second section in relation to the first section, such as to position one end of the second section in geometric conformity with one end of the first section. This arrangement enables all movements to be made directly on the floor, obviating the need to provide lifting machines or overhead traveling cranes within the assembly facility.

A wheel dolly for lifting and transporting a flat tire attached to an aircraft is comprised of a frame assembly having first and second laterally spaced frame members and a telescopic frame structure interposed between the laterally spaced frame members. A pair of tire lifting assemblies are fixedly coupled the frame assembly. A pair of actuators is coupled between the tire lifting assemblies to force the tire lifting assemblies toward one another in order to raise a flat tire on an aircraft. A plurality of wheels is coupled to the frame assembly to allow the frame assembly to roll in any direction.

A wheel dolly for lifting and transporting a flat tire attached to an aircraft is comprised of a frame assembly having first and second laterally spaced frame members and a telescopic frame structure interposed between the laterally spaced frame members. A pair of tire lifting assemblies are fixedly coupled the frame assembly. A pair of actuators is coupled between the tire lifting assemblies to force the tire lifting assemblies toward one another in order to raise a flat tire on an aircraft. A plurality of wheels is coupled to the frame assembly to allow the frame assembly to roll in any direction.

Systems and methods are provided for inspecting a wing panel. Some methods include advancing a wing panel through a Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) station, and inspecting the wing panel with inspection heads at the NDI station. The wing panel may be suspended beneath a strongback during inspection and/or advancement, such as by using vacuum couplers and/or adjustable-length pogos of the strongback, and suspending may include enforcing a contour to the wing panel using the vacuum couplers and/or pogos. Other methods include receiving a wing panel at an NDI station and inspecting a portion thereof during movement through the NDI station. Some systems include a track, a strongback to suspend a wing panel beneath it and to advance along the track, and an NDI station disposed at the track to inspect the wing panel while suspended.

Systems and methods are provided for inspecting a wing panel. Some methods include advancing a wing panel through a Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) station, and inspecting the wing panel with inspection heads at the NDI station. The wing panel may be suspended beneath a strongback during inspection and/or advancement, such as by using vacuum couplers and/or adjustable-length pogos of the strongback, and suspending may include enforcing a contour to the wing panel using the vacuum couplers and/or pogos. Other methods include receiving a wing panel at an NDI station and inspecting a portion thereof during movement through the NDI station. Some systems include a track, a strongback to suspend a wing panel beneath it and to advance along the track, and an NDI station disposed at the track to inspect the wing panel while suspended.

Systems and methods are provided for enforcing contours onto parts of an aircraft. One embodiment is a method for enforcing a contour onto aircraft parts. The method includes removably attaching segmented ring details to aircraft skin details, attaching stringers to skin details to create skin assemblies, positioning skin assemblies at a support structure defining a contour, and fastening frames to the skin assemblies to create a panel. The method also includes removably installing a spreader section onto the panel to complete assembly of a brace prior to removal of the panel, transporting the panel while the brace enforces the contour, attaching the brace to braces for other panels to form a barrel section of a fuselage for an aircraft while the brace enforces the contour, and removing the brace from the barrel section after the barrel section has been formed.

Systems are provided for fabricating a preform for a fuselage section of an aircraft. The system includes advancing a series of arcuate mandrel sections in a process direction through an assembly line, laying up fiber reinforced material onto the arcuate mandrel sections via layup stations, uniting the series of arcuate mandrel sections into a combined mandrel; and splicing the fiber reinforced material laid-up onto the arcuate mandrel sections.

Systems and methods are provided for advancing a fuselage section of an aircraft. One embodiment is a system that includes a series of plates configured to be sequentially affixed along a length of the fuselage section, and a track configured to form a frictional fit with the plates. The track includes drive units configured to form nips retaining the series of plates, and that are configured to advance the fuselage section along the track in a process direction, and indexing elements that are configured to engage with indexing elements at the plates during pauses between operation of the drive units. The system also includes tools configured to perform work on the fuselage section while the indexing elements of the track are engaged.

Systems and methods are provided for advancing a fuselage section of an aircraft. One embodiment is a system that includes a series of plates configured to be sequentially affixed along a length of the fuselage section, and a track configured to form a frictional fit with the plates. The track includes drive units configured to form nips retaining the series of plates, and that are configured to advance the fuselage section along the track in a process direction, and indexing elements that are configured to engage with indexing elements at the plates during pauses between operation of the drive units. The system also includes tools configured to perform work on the fuselage section while the indexing elements of the track are engaged.